Ex-president S R Nathan to lie in state in Parliament House from today

People can pay their last respects to former president S R Nathan at Parliament House today from 10am to 10pm.

Mr Nathan died on Monday at age 92.

His last journey to Parliament House begins at 8.45am, when the casket bearing his body will leave his home in Ceylon Road. On arrival, it will be received by Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob.

In the highest honour accorded to a leader, the state flag will be draped over the casket, with the crescent and stars lying over the head and close to the heart of Mr Nathan, who was Singapore's sixth and longest-serving president.

Nine officers will transfer the casket onto the bier, where it will lie in state ahead of the state funeral service tomorrow afternoon.

President Tony Tan Keng Yam and his wife Mary will then pay their respects.

Four uniformed officers will keep vigil over the casket - in the highest form of respect to the deceased.

Vigil guards were deployed at the state funerals of Mr Lee Kuan Yew and former Cabinet ministers.

Medals awarded to Mr Nathan, a long-time former civil servant and diplomat, will be on display.

They include Singapore's top civilian honour, the Order of Temasek (First Class), which he received in 2013, and the Meritorious Service Medal, awarded in 1974.

Visitors to Parliament should make their way via St Andrew's Road from City Hall MRT station, the state funeral organising committee said yesterday.

The funeral service will be held at the University Cultural Centre from 3pm to 5pm tomorrow.

Yesterday, a stream of national leaders, former colleagues and family friends paid their respects on the second day of the private wake held by Mr Nathan's family at his home.

Over at the Istana, people wrote their condolences on cards, which were then put on display.

At least three separate tribute events were held yesterday, including by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the self-help groups and the Inter-Religious Organisation, of which Mr Nathan was the patron.